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KENYATTA HILL
Kenyatta Hill's career as a singer
began the day his father's ended. Joseph Hill, singer and songwriter
from the iconic Jamaican vocal trio Culture, passed away in 2006 while
on tour in Europe. Left without a lead singer, Kenyatta - then the
band's sound engineer - stepped from behind the mixing board and onstage
to deliver 19 electrifying performances until the completion of the
tour. Fans, promoters, and critics all agreed: the legacy of Culture
would live on.
Influenced by elements of dancehall, grounded in the roots tradition,
and motivated to carry on his father's work, Kenyatta set out to finish
songs that Joseph had started and create new music of his own. On his
poignant debut album "Pass The Torch" (Tafari Records), he was backed by
a masterful roster of musicians including Sly Dunbar and Robbie
Shakespeare. His first single, "Daddy," explored the emotional pain and
uncertainty that he felt after the loss of his father. The album
received critical acclaim and remains a fan favorite. Following his
debut, Kenyatta embarked on a successful U.S. tour with Beres Hammond
and released a celebrated tribute album in 2011, "Live On: A Tribute To
Culture". He continued to tour extensively across the globe, honing his
craft as a solo artist and keeping the legacy of Culture alive for
reggae lovers everywhere.
He has now returned from the studio older and wiser, ready to share a
more complete picture of Kenyatta Hill: the artist, the man. His new
album Riddim Of Life (Honest Music), features members of the famed Roots
Radics band, Culture backing band, and Thievery Corporation's reggae
outfit The Archives. The anthemic first single and video "Afrikan"
highlights the voice "commented on in countless articles and reviews as
being a carbon copy of his father's [which] melts on the instrumentals
like bittersweet chocolate," writes Gardy Stein-Kanjora of Reggaeville.
"The lyrics stretch beyond purely philosophical matters to very private
affairs [without] leaving Rasta-Grounds." As Kenyatta instructs, "Lend
not only your ear, but your heart and mind." Tune in to the Riddim Of
Life
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